Maternal health experts have issued a strong warning against the growing myths surrounding pregnancies lasting several years, emphasizing that such claims are scientifically unfounded and medically impossible.
Experts assert that a typical human pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, or about 10 months, with any pregnancy extending beyond 42 weeks considered abnormal and potentially dangerous.
The warning comes in response to an eight-year pregnancy claim made by Janet Dada, who alleged that after a miscarriage in 2016, she had not delivered the baby, despite ultrasound scans showing no fetus.
Dada’s story, along with similar claims from public figures like former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, has fueled widespread speculation.
Prof. Rotimi Akinola, former president of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, clarified that irregular menstrual cycles or health conditions such as ovarian cancer could lead some women to mistakenly believe they are pregnant for extended periods.
He also highlighted cases of pseudocyesis, or false pregnancy, a psychological condition in which women experience pregnancy-like symptoms without actually being pregnant.
Experts also pointed to rare conditions such as molar pregnancies, where abnormal tissue growth in the uterus mimics a pregnancy, or abdominal tumors that can cause swelling resembling pregnancy. These conditions, if misdiagnosed, could contribute to claims of pregnancies lasting several years.
Prof. Abubakar Panti, an expert in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, stressed that pregnancies lasting beyond 42 weeks are termed post-term and pose significant risks to both the mother and baby.
He urged that such myths, if left unchallenged, could lead to delayed medical intervention, raising the risk of complications like hypertension, diabetes, and hemorrhage during labor.
The experts called for better education and healthcare access to dispel misconceptions about pregnancy durations and ensure women receive timely and appropriate prenatal care.
